ExecutiveMom's Safety and Self Defense Blog

It's Not Easy Being Green

Well, I guess I'm back after a couple week vacation and a minor abdominal surgery - Reality just kind of stinks!
After having not to cook, clean, taxi children or do laundry (my most dreaded activity), I have hit the ground running once again at 150 mph. And it's just in time for summer vacation to begin. The kids have been out a week and they are already wondering around my house bored like they can't think of anything to do. I've given them a list....but... yeah right.
     I had my youngest niece over the other night and watching the Muppets, Kermit the Frog says: "It's not easy being Green." It made me think of all the buzz words and popular activities people seem to be participating in to become "Green" and save some of our planet. 
     Now, Green campaign or not, I think a lot of what we are doing are just the "right" thing to do.  My kids and I have long been recycling - thanks to a lecture program at their school. But it is nice to have a new bin that I can take to the end of my drive instead of loading my car up with the stuff. 
     And we are conscious about turning off electronics and lights when we leave a room, we don't leave the water running excessively while we brush our teeth, we re-use containers, plastic grocery bags and tin foil if we can before discarding them when their life has run out. Yucky - but we do wear a pair of jeans twice before running them through the wash - maybe that's just my aversion to doing laundry too :) (other than the boy who we just dump him and his clothes into the wash machine at once to clean all the dirt off).
     So my point?  Here we are on this beautiful anniversary vacation - Belize, Grand Cayman, Florida Keys, Honduras - incredible places, beaches, corral, dolphins, sea turtles, huge star fish.  And stupid humans!!
     If we are doing all these things to save our planet from our destruction then why don't we honor Mother Earth and her creatures??  What in the world?  People truly are sometimes just idiots....I don't care if you are on vacation or not!  How many people a year trounce through these places?  Is that not why the ruins at Talum are no longer open to the public to walk on or explore? Because humans wanted to "take a piece home with them" or didn't respect them and now they are crumbling after thousands of years?  How destructive can we be?
     As we traveled, I watched people not only waste tons of food - because they could (on a cruise ship) but saw them throw their trash on the beautiful beaches, chase down wild monkeys in the jungle while stomping on the natural growth (and one mother wondered why her kid got bit?), people pulling off the tips of the live corral or walking on it even after being asked/told not to, humans swimming on the backs of the sea turtles they were instructed not to touch, and a couple holding a giant starfish out of water as the man with the blow horn yelled at them - they continued to hold that poor guy out of water just so they could have the perfect picture.  As tourists, why we foreigners are ever invited back is beyond me (besides the all mighty dollar) but we are destroying the Earth and her creatures and we don't think twice about it!
     Even as we drove home I noticed more razed trees in expectation of a new shopping strip mall - no renters available yet, tons of empty building down the street - yet someone wants to make money so they destroy the one thing that can help us survive - our trees and greenery. 

Nope - it's not easy being green but hey if we used just a little bit of common sense it would make a difference! Well, my welcome back rant.  Any ideas on what you can do as an individual to make a difference for our future generations??

Man vs. Vodka – New travel hazards?

I love "stupid human" tricks and am never disappointed. 

"People watching" is actually one of my favorite past times. Now I have to agree with this traveler. It is frustrating to limit how much liquid we have in our carry on bags and I, as a woman, have an awful time packing to "stay under the poundage limits" on my check-in bags as well (always want to pack everything "just in case"….similar to all that useless stuff my husband saves in his work room for usage one day-but that's a story for another day).

I think it's a rip off that I have to pay $5 inside the football stadium for a bottle of water and I can't bring in my own beverage with me. And yes, I have stood outside "chugging" a soda down at the last minute before entering so as not to waste it but this one … what was the man thinking? Guess that's the point - he wasn't…

What would you have done in the situation?

Health and safety concerns aside … couldn't he have just poured a little out to make it "within limits"? Or even just drink a little? But to drink the whole bottle, poison himself and pass out - had to have cost him more than the bottle did in hospital bills and delayed trip home…  like I said - people watching can be cheaper and more fun than going to the movies - no one could actually make this stuff up on purpose…

BERLIN - A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing a liter (two pints) of vodka at an airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new carry-on rules, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the Nuremberg airport on Tuesday, where the 64-year-old man was switching planes on his way home to Dresden from a holiday in Egypt.

New airport rules prohibit passengers from carrying larger quantities of liquid onto planes, and he was told at a security check he would have to either throw out the bottle of vodka or pay a fee to have his carry-on bag checked as cargo.

Instead, he chugged the bottle down — and was quickly unable to stand or otherwise function, police said.

A doctor called to the scene determined he had possibly life-threatening alcohol poisoning, and he was sent to a Nuremberg clinic for treatment.

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Drive Home These 10 Defensive Tips

It's hard to believe but the kids are heading back to school and our morning rush has gotten crazier with school buses and commuting parents rejoining our TRAVELS....The following are some tips and reasons to make sure you, your employees and your young drivers are educated on SAFE DRIVING ....
·  Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of accidental death in the United States. They are also the most common cause of workplace deaths, representing about one in four fatal work injuries.
·  Every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, every 10 seconds an injury occurs, and every 5 seconds a crash occurs. And many of these accidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work.
·  Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion annually. The average crash costs $16,500, and when a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the cost can go as high as $74,000.

When a worker dies in a traffic accident, costs can exceed $500,000. When you think of safety hazards and employee injuries, you probably focus on what goes on inside your workplace. But one of the greatest threats to worker safety is in the parking lot and on the road.

Whether they drive on the job or commute to work by car, defensive driving training is a must for ALL!!   Here are some basic rules of defensive driving:    
* Buckle up for safety.    
* Follow traffic rules, signs, and signals.    
* Don't speed and keep at least 2 to 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front.    
* Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your attention on traffic.    
* Check your rearview and side mirrors frequently.    
* Adjust your speed and driving to changing weather and traffic conditions.    
* Expect the unexpected and be especially alert in heavy traffic for sudden stops, vehicles passing or     moving in and out of lanes, road debris, and work zones.    
* Keep cool, yield right of way, and don't get into disputes with other drivers.    
* Pull over to make or receive phone calls.    
* Don't drink or take drugs and drive.

AND TALKING ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL...ANY IDEAS ON LAST MINUTE TRAVEL TIPS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS - BE IT BY AIR OR CAR.....Have a great Wednesday....

Donate to Help Victims of Violent Crime Without Spending an Extra Dime

How often are you approached for a donation for a worthy cause? There are so many organizations deserving of our attention – cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, homelessness, education, safety. We all want to help. However, with a variety of respectable choices and limited funds, how do you choose which one to help? 

 What if you could donate to help without spending an extra dime? What if you could help victims of violent crime by doing something you do on a regular basis?

 

 As the CEO of Executive Defense Technology, LLC, an anti-victimization / self-defense organization, I wanted to find a way to help victims of violent crime without having to ask people to choose where they wanted to place their discretionary funds. After much thought and research she found an online opportunity – Travel. 

 

 Everyone travels and with the growing number of baby boomers, college students returning to school and business travelers, the amount of money being spent in the travel industry is growing daily. Today, many people rely on the internet for their travel needs – it's fast, convenient and easy. There are many popular sites: Orbitz, Expedia, Yahoo! Travel. They are all excellent sources of outstanding deals on everything from your hotel stay and car rental to airline travel and cruises. Even though these sites on online and a travel agent may not be involved, an organization is still receiving a commission for booking your travel. 

 

 What if you booked your travel through a web site that was powered by Travelocity, is comparable to or could save you money over the other sites and the money raised would be used to help foster programs for victims of violent crimes such as education, counseling and other forms of support. Would you use this web site to book your travel knowing that you were not only going to enjoy a wonderful trip or vacation but you were also able to help educate children on "stranger danger", help a woman leave an abusive relationship or help support a program to counsel victims of sexual abuse?

 

 Well, Executive Defense Technology has set up such a web site at http://www.travel4victimsofcrime.org. It doesn't cost you anything!! You book your car, hotel, air, cruise and the agent proceeds will be going to a worthy cause. No choices and money left over for all the other deserving charities seeking support. So, the next time you schedule your travel on line choose Travel 4 Victims of Crime. It's easy – click, book your travel today, help others - and pass the information along!

 

 

10 Tips to Safety during Winter Storms

As Mark Twain put it, “Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.”

Winter had most of the United States in its grip on Tuesday, with 500,000 homes and businesses still lacking electricity in the Midwest and Northeast, while the Northwest experienced another blast of snow and California reported that nearly its entire citrus crop was wiped out by a freeze.

In the Northeast, power lines were down, highways were treacherous and spring-like temperatures were only a memory in the wake of the storm that earlier had plastered the Midwest and Plains with a heavy shell of ice.

The images from these recent events bring to mind the need to keep ourselves and our loved ones as safe as possible during bad storms, no matter where we live.

It’s important to plan ahead:

1. Assemble an emergency kit. Have these items on hand and make sure they can last for at least 72 hours: a flashlight; batteries; a portable radio; at least 1 gallon of water per person per day; non-perishable foods such as canned goods and granola bars; a can opener; an extra set of clothes; durable shoes; blankets; items to help pass the time, such as a deck of cards; a first aid kit that includes prescription drugs as needed; a whistle; and supplies such as duct tape and plastic so you can build a “shelter in place” if necessary. You can make smaller versions of this kit for your car or office and stock it with practical items for either setting.
2. Take special Steps if you need special items – life support, oxygen, etc.
3. Know where to find water
4. Keep your refrigerated food safe
5. Avoid Shock and Electrocution
6. Protect yourself from hypothermia
7. Don’t get over heated
8. Stay clear of carbon- monoxide – great article to read on the subject
9. know when to say when and seek shelter some where that’s safer – and if you do leave – make sure all is locked up to prevent from robbers/looters
10. Stay safe while on the road - Generally speaking, you should never wander away from your vehicle unless you’re certain about precisely where you are and precisely where you can find help. Other tidbits to remember: stay on main roads whenever possible; use a bright distress flag, flares or hazard lights to draw attention to your car; and if you have enough gasoline, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour so you stay warm. (Ten tips to stay safe on the road)

Again, who could have predicted some of the freakish weather we've gotten in the past few weeks? None of us! JUST BE SAFE OUT THERE!